THE Cebu City Legal Office (CLO) has made it clear that there is no exemption from the truck ban in Cebu City.
This is after the Cebu Contractors Association Inc. (CCAI) sought the help of Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella to exclude the concrete mixer trucks from the truck ban.
City lawyer Rey Gealon said the truck ban is implemented during peak hours pursuant to the existing traffic rules and regulations, including the City Ordinance 801 or the Traffic Code of Cebu City.
He explained that the policy is made in order to address the worsening traffic situation in and around the city, contributed by the “sheer number of these regulated trucks” plying our roads.
“Dura lex sed lex, the law may be harsh but it is the law,” Gealon emphasized.
He said the city has to deny the request the CCAI for truck ban exemption.
In a letter dated October 8 from the CCAI to Labella signed by their president Petrious Dakay, they are asking the mayor if the concrete mixer trucks can be excluded, stating that in the past, there was no need to exempt mixer trucks since concrete pouring only lasts for about one to four hours only, but now, there are concrete pouring activities that last for about 24 hours due to the volume needed.
Dakay said this is due to the rise of construction activities in the city that resulted from the Build, Build, Build program.
Dakay emphasized that a stoppage on concrete pouring will create “cold joints and greatly affects structural strength, integrity, and stability.”
The CLO, however, has emphasized that only vehicles whose services are vital and necessary to health, disaster response, or public interest are exempted from the truck ban.
Gealon stated in his response to the letter that the apprehension may still be addressed by the fact that concrete mixer trucks are able to pass through the major thoroughfares within the day since the truck ban is only implemented during peak hours.